thornback

[ thawrn-bak ]

noun

1. a skate, Raja clavata, of European waters, having short spines on the back and tail.
2. a California ray, Platyrhinoidis triseriatus, belonging to the guitarfish group.

thornback

/ ˈθɔːnˌbæk /

noun

1. a European ray, Raja clavata, having a row of spines along the back and tail
2. a similar fish, Platyrhinoidis triseriata, of the Pacific Ocean

Word History and Origins

Origin of thornback¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; thorn, back ¹

Example Sentences

A young thornback ray fish saved after being allowed to grow in a sandwich bag has "hatched".

From BBC

A young thornback ray has been saved at Macduff Marine Aquarium in Aberdeenshire - after being allowed to grow in a sandwich bag.

From BBC

“I think a lot of people assume that if you’re disabled, you can’t work,” says Miles Thornback.

From Seattle Times

On any weekday morning, Miles Thornback is working on marketing campaigns for real estate agents or dealing with tricky tech issues at the office.

From Seattle Times

Thornback, who has cerebral palsy, got hired three years ago at the RE/MAX Prestige real estate agency in Costa Mesa, California, after the owners heard that he’d spent six years applying for jobs at hundreds of companies and finding nothing but negative mindsets.

From Seattle Times